Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

Playing such a significant role on a team for four years is pretty impressive no matter where you play. Wake Forest has been a quality team over most of those seasons. After redshirting in 2004 as a true freshman, Alphonso Smith stepped into the starting line-up before the season began. The cornerback earned a variety of All-American honors for his efforts. As a sophomore he only started three contests, but he tallied 8.5 tackles-for-loss, four sacks and three interceptions. As an upperclassman Smith really came into his own and earned first team All-ACC honors due to his eight interceptions, including three that were returned for touchdowns. Through four games in 2008, Smith already has 30 tackles, four for loss and one interception. Smith has everything anybody could want from a cornerback -- with one exception. He is quick, has great instincts, can catch the ball very effectively and is rarely caught out of position. The one problem is his size. He is only 5-9 and 190 pounds. His size, or lack there of, will keep him down on some draft boards, but Smith deserves to be mentioned with some of the top corners in this class. If he can separate himself from players like Kevin Barnes of Maryland, Mike Mickens of Cincinnati and Darius Butler of Connecticut, Smith could be a first round selection come April. 11/11 Update: Smith has done nothing this season to diminish his hopes of a first day selection. He has five interceptions, 13 pass break-ups and has tallied 29 total tackles through nine games. That is not a bad season as it is and there is still more time. His lack of size will still be the biggest thing standing between him and a first-round selection. 12/25 Update: Smith finished the year with seven interceptions and 13 pass break-ups. Smith culminated his collegiate career with an interception in the Eagle Bank Bowl during Wake Forest's 29-19 victory over Navy and will hope to ride that momentum into the NFL. Once again it is his height that will be the biggest problem and now Smith has to prove to NFL scouts that he can overcome that deficiency. 2/11 Update: Smith had some great Senior Bowl workouts and is quickly moving up draft boards. He will likely be a late first round or early second round pick in April. His size is still an issue, but if he goes to a zone coverage team he has proven that he can be a very productive player. 4/16 Update: Wake Forest's Pro Day and the NFL Combine did not go that well for Smith. His numbers were not that great and his lack of size is a big issue. He needed to blow away scouts with his physical abilities and he failed to do that. That will almost certainly keep Smith out of the first round, but he should be gone before the end of the first day of the draft.